Estimating total suspended matter using the particle backscattering coefficient: results from the Itumbiara hydroelectric reservoir (Goias State, Brazil)

In this study, a quasi-analytical algorithm (QAA)-based model was parameterized using remote-sensing reflectance (R-rs, units in sr(-1)), total absorption coefficient (a(t)) and total suspended matter (TSM) concentration. The model was based on the particle backscattering at 561 nm (b(bp)(561)) and was derived from the QAA and TSM concentration. The aim of this work was to parameterize a QAA-based model to estimate the TSM concentration using the Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensor in the Itumbiara hydroelectric reservoir, Brazil. The results demonstrated that the calibrated model, TSM = 0: 907 + 5.479 x b(bp)(561) + xi, had a coefficient of determination of R-2 = 0.70 and that the validation had an R-2 = 0.82, RMSE = 41.39% and a mean bias of 0.074 mg l(-1). The primary observation using the TSM and b(bp)(561) maps is that waters with lower b(bp)(561) values have lower TSM concentrations; there is a direct correlation between b(bp)(561) and TSM concentration.